Creating a Depth Map

1. A method of generating a depth map comprising depth values representing distances to a viewer, for respective pixels of an image, the method comprising the steps of: determining a contour, using a determining unit, on the basis of pixel values of the image, the contour comprising a collection of adjacent points; computing curvature vectors, using a computing unit, at a number of the points; and assigning, using an assigning unit, a first one of the depth values corresponding to the first one of the pixels on the basis of the curvature vectors.

2. The method of generating a depth map as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of assigning the first one of the depth values comprises the sub-steps: computing depth derivatives on the basis of the respective curvature vectors; and computing the first one of the depth values on the basis of a first one of the depth derivatives.

3. The method of generating a depth map as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a size of a first one of the depth derivatives is computed on the basis of the length of a first one of the curvature vectors.

4. The method of generating a depth map as claimed in claim 2 , wherein a direction of a first one of the depth derivatives is computed on the basis of the orientation of a first one of the curvature vectors.

5. The method of generating a depth map as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of: computing a collection of average vectors on the basis of the curvature vectors, the average vectors having mutually equal lengths; and assigning a first one of the depth values corresponding to the first one of the pixels on the basis of the average vectors.

6. The method of generating a depth map as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the collection of average vectors is computed by means of parallel transport.

7. The method of generating a depth map as claimed in claim 5 , wherein assigning the first one of the depth values comprises computing depth derivatives on the basis of the respective average vector, and computing the first one of the depth values on the basis of a first one of the depth derivatives.

8. The method of generating a depth map as claimed in claim 7 , wherein a size of a first one of the depth derivatives is computed on the basis of the length of a first one of the average vectors.

9. The method of generating a depth map as claimed in claim 7 , wherein a direction of a first one of the depth derivatives is computed on the basis of the orientation of a first one of the average vectors.

10. A depth map generating unit for generating a depth map comprising depth values representing distances to a viewer, for respective pixels of an image, the depth map generating unit comprising: determining means for determining a contour on the basis of pixel values of the image, the contour comprising a collection of adjacent points; computing means for computing curvature vectors at a number of the points; and assigning means for assigning a first one of the depth values corresponding to the first one of the pixels on the basis of the curvature vectors.

11. An image processing apparatus comprising: receiving means for receiving a signal corresponding to an image; and a depth map generating unit, as claimed in claim 10 , coupled to the receiving means for generating a depth map.

12. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions for causing a computer to generate a depth map comprising depth values representing distances to a viewer, for respective pixels of an image, the computer arrangement comprising processing means for performing, under control of the computer program, the steps of: determining a contour on the basis of pixel values of the image, the contour comprising a collection of adjacent points; computing curvature vectors at a number of the points; and assigning a first one of the depth values corresponding to the first one of the pixels on the basis of the curvature vectors.